Protests in Syria

[High_Gravity]

Syrian forces break up Damascus protest

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Security forces wielding batons dispersed 150 demonstrators who had gathered in central of Damascus on Wednesday in the most serious protest against Syria's ruling hierarchy since revolts spread in the Arab world.

Scores of plainclothes security officers charged the demonstrators assembled outside the Interior Ministry to demand the release of political prisoners, a Reuters witness said.

One demonstrator suffered a gash on his head, others were beaten and at least 15 were detained, including leading political activist Suhair al-Attasi.

Attasi had said Syrian authorities would not be able to escape the tumult shaking the Arab world by refusing to open the country's political system and allowing free expression.

"They pulled Suhair by her hair and took her away," one demonstrator said.

Among those arrested were Tayyib Tizini, 69, a professor of philosophy at Damascus University, and the sister and son of Kamal Labwani, a doctor jailed for "weakening national morale" and "inciting a foreign country to invade Syria."

The gathering in Marjeh square, an Ottoman-era square in the centre of the capital, had been silent, with protesters raising pictures of imprisoned relatives and friends, before security forces started hitting them with their batons.

Syrian forces break up Damascus protest | World | Reuters

 

[High_Gravity]

Officers Fire on Crowd as Syrian Protests Grow

DAMASCUS, Syria — Protesters set fire to the ruling Baath Party’s headquarters and other government buildings in the southern city of Dara’a on Sunday, as protesters rallied and clashed with the police for a third straight day, witnesses said.

Police officers fired live ammunition into the crowds, killing at least one and wounding scores of others, witnesses said. But the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, also made some conciliatory gestures in an apparent attempt to stop the cycle of public anger that has fueled uprisings in other Arab countries in the past three months.

Syria, a police state known for its brutal suppression of any public protests, seemed immune to the wave of uprisings sweeping the Arab world until the past week, when demonstrations took place in several cities. The southern town of Dara’a, where citizens were outraged by the arrest of more than a dozen schoolchildren, has seen the largest protests by far. Thousands took to the streets on Sunday, as they have for several days now.

Mr. Assad sent a delegation to offer condolences to the families of those killed in the clashes in Dara’a, including the deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, and Tamer al-Hajeh, the minister of local administration.

Thousands gathered in and around the Omari mosque in Dara’a, chanting their demands: the release of all political prisoners; trials for those who shot and killed protesters; the abolition of Syria’s 48-year emergency law; more freedoms; and an end to pervasive corruption. “No fear after today,” the crowd chanted, according to witnesses and human rights activists.

Even as a group of prominent Dara’a citizens sat down for talks with Mr. Assad’s delegation, there was pandemonium in the streets. As the protests grew heated, the police sprayed tear gas, further angering the protesters, who began tearing down a poster of Mr. Assad in the main square of Dara’a. The police then opened fire into the crowd, witnesses said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/world/middleeast/21syria.html?ref=middleeast

 

[logical4u]

Syrian forces break up Damascus protest

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Security forces wielding batons dispersed 150 demonstrators who had gathered in central of Damascus on Wednesday in the most serious protest against Syria's ruling hierarchy since revolts spread in the Arab world.

Scores of plainclothes security officers charged the demonstrators assembled outside the Interior Ministry to demand the release of political prisoners, a Reuters witness said.

One demonstrator suffered a gash on his head, others were beaten and at least 15 were detained, including leading political activist Suhair al-Attasi.

Attasi had said Syrian authorities would not be able to escape the tumult shaking the Arab world by refusing to open the country's political system and allowing free expression.

"They pulled Suhair by her hair and took her away," one demonstrator said.

Among those arrested were Tayyib Tizini, 69, a professor of philosophy at Damascus University, and the sister and son of Kamal Labwani, a doctor jailed for "weakening national morale" and "inciting a foreign country to invade Syria."

The gathering in Marjeh square, an Ottoman-era square in the centre of the capital, had been silent, with protesters raising pictures of imprisoned relatives and friends, before security forces started hitting them with their batons.

Syrian forces break up Damascus protest | World | Reuters

Are the leaders of Syria part of the "religion of peace"? There you go! There is your sign!

 

[High_Gravity]

Where are the US Cruise missiles and French jets?

 

[dilloduck]

Officers Fire on Crowd as Syrian Protests Grow

DAMASCUS, Syria — Protesters set fire to the ruling Baath Party’s headquarters and other government buildings in the southern city of Dara’a on Sunday, as protesters rallied and clashed with the police for a third straight day, witnesses said.

Police officers fired live ammunition into the crowds, killing at least one and wounding scores of others, witnesses said. But the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, also made some conciliatory gestures in an apparent attempt to stop the cycle of public anger that has fueled uprisings in other Arab countries in the past three months.

Syria, a police state known for its brutal suppression of any public protests, seemed immune to the wave of uprisings sweeping the Arab world until the past week, when demonstrations took place in several cities. The southern town of Dara’a, where citizens were outraged by the arrest of more than a dozen schoolchildren, has seen the largest protests by far. Thousands took to the streets on Sunday, as they have for several days now.

Mr. Assad sent a delegation to offer condolences to the families of those killed in the clashes in Dara’a, including the deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, and Tamer al-Hajeh, the minister of local administration.

Thousands gathered in and around the Omari mosque in Dara’a, chanting their demands: the release of all political prisoners; trials for those who shot and killed protesters; the abolition of Syria’s 48-year emergency law; more freedoms; and an end to pervasive corruption. “No fear after today,” the crowd chanted, according to witnesses and human rights activists.

Even as a group of prominent Dara’a citizens sat down for talks with Mr. Assad’s delegation, there was pandemonium in the streets. As the protests grew heated, the police sprayed tear gas, further angering the protesters, who began tearing down a poster of Mr. Assad in the main square of Dara’a. The police then opened fire into the crowd, witnesses said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/world/middleeast/21syria.html?ref=middleeast

they need UN protection.

 

[logical4u]

Where are the US Cruise missiles and French jets?

They must wait until Al Jazeera says the protesters are calling for the USA to save them.

 

[High_Gravity]

Where are the US Cruise missiles and French jets?

They must wait until Al Jazeera says the protesters are calling for the USA to save them.

Theres no oil contracts in Syria though.

 

[FuelRod]

Hey Syria - You just made Barry's "death list"

 

[dilloduck]

Where are the US Cruise missiles and French jets?

They must wait until Al Jazeera says the protesters are calling for the USA to save them.

Theres no oil contracts in Syria though.

Doesn't matter--the UN is agggresively protecting civilians from internal conflicts these days.

 

[High_Gravity]

They must wait until Al Jazeera says the protesters are calling for the USA to save them.

Theres no oil contracts in Syria though.

Doesn't matter--the UN is agggresively protecting civilians from internal conflicts these days.

Really? when are the US cruise Missiles and French Fighter Jets heading to Bahrain, Yemen, Iran and Zimbabwe?

 

[dilloduck]

Theres no oil contracts in Syria though.

Doesn't matter--the UN is agggresively protecting civilians from internal conflicts these days.

Really? when are the US cruise Missiles and French Fighter Jets heading to Bahrain, Yemen, Iran and Zimbabwe?

From what I understand these people just need to ask for help. What a great organization that UN is !

 

[High_Gravity]

Doesn't matter--the UN is agggresively protecting civilians from internal conflicts these days.

Really? when are the US cruise Missiles and French Fighter Jets heading to Bahrain, Yemen, Iran and Zimbabwe?

From what I understand these people just need to ask for help. What a great organization that UN is !

Oh ok, next time Iranian protestors are being raped and protestors in Zimbabwe are getting their heads smashed open with billy clubs, they should email the UN and the US Cruise Missiles and French jets will be there in a jiffy.

 

[High_Gravity]

Protest spreads to new southern Syrian village

DAMASCUS, Syria – Protests spread in southern Syria Tuesday as hundreds of people marched to demand reforms in a previously peaceful village, witnesses and activists said.

In a nearby city, troops and protesters faced off outside a mosque where demonstrators have taken shelter.

The government sought to contain the first serious intrusion of the Arab world's political unrest by firing the governor of the southern province of Daraa, where security forces killed seven protesters in the main city of Daraa over the weekend.

The governor's dismissal failed to quell popular anger and the protests reached the village of Nawa, where hundreds of people marched demanding reforms, an activist told The Associated Press.

The activist said troops were trying to reach the mosque in Daraa's historic center where protesters have sought protection. He said protesters placed large rocks in the streets near the al-Omari mosque to block the troops.

There was a heavy security presence and most of the shops were closed elsewhere in the old quarter of Daraa, witnesses said.

A clip posted on YouTube showed several hundred villagers in Sanamein, near Daraa, chanting "Freedom!" while another showed dozens gathered in the Hajar Aswad neighborhood of the capital.

Syrian activists who reported the protests said they took place Monday evening. The activists spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared government reprisals. The authenticity of the videos could not be independently verified.

Protests also spread Monday to the towns of Jasim and Inkhil near Daraa, witnesses said.

Many demonstrators demanded the departure of provincial governor Faisal Kalthoum after security forces used tear gas, water cannons and later live ammunition to disperse the crowds, which first gathered on Friday.

Enraged residents then set fire to several government buildings in a startling outburst of unrest in one of the Middle East's most repressive countries.

Protest spreads to new southern Syrian village - Yahoo! News

 

[logical4u]

Protest spreads to new southern Syrian village

DAMASCUS, Syria – Protests spread in southern Syria Tuesday as hundreds of people marched to demand reforms in a previously peaceful village, witnesses and activists said.

In a nearby city, troops and protesters faced off outside a mosque where demonstrators have taken shelter.

The government sought to contain the first serious intrusion of the Arab world's political unrest by firing the governor of the southern province of Daraa, where security forces killed seven protesters in the main city of Daraa over the weekend.

The governor's dismissal failed to quell popular anger and the protests reached the village of Nawa, where hundreds of people marched demanding reforms, an activist told The Associated Press.

The activist said troops were trying to reach the mosque in Daraa's historic center where protesters have sought protection. He said protesters placed large rocks in the streets near the al-Omari mosque to block the troops.

There was a heavy security presence and most of the shops were closed elsewhere in the old quarter of Daraa, witnesses said.

A clip posted on YouTube showed several hundred villagers in Sanamein, near Daraa, chanting "Freedom!" while another showed dozens gathered in the Hajar Aswad neighborhood of the capital.

Syrian activists who reported the protests said they took place Monday evening. The activists spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared government reprisals. The authenticity of the videos could not be independently verified.

Protests also spread Monday to the towns of Jasim and Inkhil near Daraa, witnesses said.

Many demonstrators demanded the departure of provincial governor Faisal Kalthoum after security forces used tear gas, water cannons and later live ammunition to disperse the crowds, which first gathered on Friday.

Enraged residents then set fire to several government buildings in a startling outburst of unrest in one of the Middle East's most repressive countries.

Protest spreads to new southern Syrian village - Yahoo! News

Do you think they are getting tired of Sharia?

 

[High_Gravity]

Protest spreads to new southern Syrian village

DAMASCUS, Syria – Protests spread in southern Syria Tuesday as hundreds of people marched to demand reforms in a previously peaceful village, witnesses and activists said.

In a nearby city, troops and protesters faced off outside a mosque where demonstrators have taken shelter.

The government sought to contain the first serious intrusion of the Arab world's political unrest by firing the governor of the southern province of Daraa, where security forces killed seven protesters in the main city of Daraa over the weekend.

The governor's dismissal failed to quell popular anger and the protests reached the village of Nawa, where hundreds of people marched demanding reforms, an activist told The Associated Press.

The activist said troops were trying to reach the mosque in Daraa's historic center where protesters have sought protection. He said protesters placed large rocks in the streets near the al-Omari mosque to block the troops.

There was a heavy security presence and most of the shops were closed elsewhere in the old quarter of Daraa, witnesses said.

A clip posted on YouTube showed several hundred villagers in Sanamein, near Daraa, chanting "Freedom!" while another showed dozens gathered in the Hajar Aswad neighborhood of the capital.

Syrian activists who reported the protests said they took place Monday evening. The activists spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared government reprisals. The authenticity of the videos could not be independently verified.

Protests also spread Monday to the towns of Jasim and Inkhil near Daraa, witnesses said.

Many demonstrators demanded the departure of provincial governor Faisal Kalthoum after security forces used tear gas, water cannons and later live ammunition to disperse the crowds, which first gathered on Friday.

Enraged residents then set fire to several government buildings in a startling outburst of unrest in one of the Middle East's most repressive countries.

Protest spreads to new southern Syrian village - Yahoo! News

Do you think they are getting tired of Sharia?

Who knows, I don't think the Assad regime is religious though, Bashars dad put down a religious uprising in Syria and they allow drinking and night clubs there, I don't think Syria is that religious to be honest.

 

[ekrem]

Assad jr. is in power for a decade and has initiated market-reforms.
He has no serious opposition within the country.
What currently happens in Syria is small in nature, and although some people have died, these incidents pose no threat to 'survival' of Assad jr. and Syrian authorities will restore order.

In all the other countries it was Shiite-vs-Sunnite (Bahrein),
Muslim-Brotherhood vs Mubarak (Egypt),
Enahda vs. Anti-religious Tunisian System,
East vs West tribes in Libya.

Assad's only threat was Bush till 2005.

 

[High_Gravity]

Assad jr. is in power for a decade and has initiated market-reforms.
He has no serious opposition within the country.
What currently happens in Syria is small in nature, and although some people have died, these incidents pose no threat to 'survival' of Assad jr. and Syrian authorities will restore order.

In all the other countries it was Shiite-vs-Sunnite (Bahrein),
Muslim-Brotherhood vs Mubarak (Egypt),
Enahda vs. Anti-religious Tunisian System,
East vs West tribes in Libya.

Assad's only threat was Bush till 2005.

People were saying the same thing about Libya how Ghaddafi had no serious opposition.

 

[ekrem]

People were saying the same thing about Libya how Ghaddafi had no serious opposition.

I've not read something like that in case of Libya.
Assad's biggest opponent is his uncle's son, who has been exiled by Assad's father.
There is no organization or tribal structure within Syria that is able to replace Assad.

 

[ekrem]

There are from time to time Kurdish related demonstrations or uprisings, but those also don't pose a threat to Syria.
USA was the biggest threat.

Syria is backed by Iran, Russia and Turkey.
Syria also is the land-bridge for Turkey's trade with Arabian peninsula.

If it is not the Americans who bring trouble (they won't bring), there won't be trouble.

 

[High_Gravity]

There are from time to time Kurdish related demonstrations or uprisings, but those also don't pose a threat to Syria.
USA was the biggest threat.

Syria is backed by Iran, Russia and Turkey.
Syria also is the land-bridge for Turkey's trade with Arabian peninsula.

If it is not the Americans who bring trouble (they won't bring), there won't be trouble.

Yeah, just like the Americans didn't bomb Libya.